Musing and Errata on the world of Adventure Racing from the Yak
presented by MPGear.com

A rolling stone gathers no moss. There's no crying in adventure racing. We're on Internet time here people. Blogs and photo galleries were great last year, but it's time for something new...so I've been dabbling with Hipcast.com and it's time to take it for a spin.

Listen and enjoy!

You know 'em...you love 'em...you've seen them at every race you've ever been to. Headsweats are the bomb and there's nothing on the market that can touch 'em.

Last year Headsweats began their support for this little experiment called Checkpoint Zero by contributing a pile of their much sought after Race Hats and Super Visors to the cause. The Team wears them, we've sent them to the RDs whose events we've sponsored and I've thrown more than a few into the crowd at the events I've attended personally

I'm very happy to announce that Headsweats has decided to broaden their support for all we do through the end of this year and right through the entire 2007 season.

This time around we're going beyond the ever popular Checkpoint Zero branded Race Hat and Super Visor to bring you the all new Pro Tech hat (Race Hat with neck flaps) and Podium Hat for life in the real world. Look for them atop the sweaty heads of Team Checkpoint Zero, at the Checkpoint Zero Adventure Race next March and coming soon...for sale online right here at checkpointzero.com.

Thanks Alan. Your support is greatly appreciated and I look forward to making sure every racer in the US comes to realize that there IS something they can do about that stinging sweat in their eyes :-)

CRIPES, I almost forgot. To show their love for those of you that love Checkpoint Zero, Headsweats is offering free shipping on your first order. Just follow one of the Headsweats ads you'll find on display around the site and your discount will be applied at checkout.

Silly Rabbit Rick Baraff's got a little blurb and pic from the feature on his blog.

Lithium AA and AAA -sized batteries could damage headtorches using LEDs according to tests carried out by Petzl.

The company says that the 'performance characteristics' of these lithium cells have advanced in order to 'provide high power discharge performance' particularly for digital camera use.

Read the full article at OUTDOORSmagic.com

Grab your gear and head for Big Bear on the "left coast". Team SOLE/E-Camp International has created an impromptu 1/2 day paddling clinic, followed by a fun mountain bike ride (optional).

Saturday September 23, 2006
Big Bear Lake, CA
Meeting Time: 8:00 a.m.
Clinic Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch and fun ride to follow.

$50 per person includes: Demos, Individual Instruction, Video Analysis.

Athletes will be given full detailed coaching on the do's and don'ts of adventure paddling, including nutrition, drafting, apparel selection and many other important aspects of adventure paddling.

It's time to Howl at the Moon. This popular 12-18 hour adventure race returns to the Suwanee River region of north Flordia on October 28th for the seventh year running. Solo racers and 2 and 4 persons teams are welcome. Registration is open now at active.com.

The Mega Dose and One Day will be running simultaneously in Front Royal, VA beginning September 29th. Volunteers are needed from that Friday (Sept 29) at 8:00 am until around 4:00 pm Sunday October 1st.

If you can help for all or even just a part of this time, please sign up online. For more info on the race, please click here and check the schedule!

Volunteers are an absolutely integral part of Odyssey's events. They have a great RACE FOR FREE program where you earn a free day of racing for every 5 days that you volunteer...or as some say...you get to volunteer for 5 days for every day you race :-)

Credit is also transferrable. So bring your family, friends and unwitting neighbors to one of the country's most beautiful state parks. Don't miss out on this chance to rack up the credit for all your future racing!

The third edition of the XPD Expedition Race will be held on the Whitsunday Coast from August 20th to 31st 2007. Teams of four will race for 10 days non-stop through reef, rainforest and outback in this diverse expedition race.


XPD is Australia's own expedition length adventure race. Up to 60 teams of four from Australia and overseas will trek, mountain bike, kayak, sail and snorkel to complete this world renowned expedition. Edition 3 of XPD will take competitors through "Reef, Rainforest and Outback" on their 700km journey. They will experience the majestic Whitsunday Islands, lush highland rainforests and the harsh Queensland outback. The event receives generous support from Mountain Designs, Sevylor, and Telstra Country Wide.

www.gar.com.au
craig@gar.com.au
61 7 3425 1885

The imminent death of AR has been a popular topic lately. In several online forums and on at least a few mailing lists the debate about the "state of the sport" has seen racers and race directors exchanging views on the reasons for a string of cancellations due to weak registration numbers.

The most recent indicator of AR's "bleak future", cited more than once, was the recent cancellation of the Cal Eco Final. I won't go into the less than uplifting notice first posted. It's since been removed. Suffice it to say a clear message was sent. According to the race director AR is fading and that is why nobody registered.

Um, ok.

Oddly, the So Cal 24, part of the Explore the West series just announced that they've sold out.

I recently spoke to a friend of mine that's an RD out west...he's looking to add 4 events to his already busy schedule next year.

Oh ya, I'm putting on my first race next March.

Fading my ass. I've got another theory. It's called Capitalism. Or as Ricky would say...it's Supply and Command.

That some RDs are floundering while others are thriving is a good thing. It means racers are voting with their wallets. The creative RDs that offer quality products and customer service and who market effectively will thrive. The ones who don't will wither and decide promoting events is not for them.

The racers will be the primary beneficiaries.